ORGAN PRESERVATIVE

Abstract: An organ preservative or protective containing (±)-N,N'-propylenedinicotinamide as the active ingredient. This compound has an excellent organ preservative and protective effect and is free from any serious problem regarding side effects and stability, and hence is remarkably useful as an organ preservative or protective.

Description: [Technical Field] This invention relates to the use of (±)-N,N'-propylenedinicotinamide (generic name; nicaraven) as an organ preservative and protective that contain [Background Art] Various drugs have heretofore been known to exhibit organ preserving or protecting action [see, for example, Japanese Patent Domestic Announcement (kohyo) No. 502819/1986, Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (kokai) Nos. 267233/1987, 20/1989, 72432/1991, 101621/1991 and 43463/1993. In particular, Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (kokai) No. 101621/1991 teaches that N-(2-hydroxyethyl)nicotinamide nitrate ester (generic name: nicorandil) having a hydroxy radical scavenging action is applicable as an organic preservative and protective agent. Nicaraven has been known to be useful as a thrombolytic agent, anti-arteriosclerotic agent and as an anti-cerebral vasospasm agent [see Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 55911/1986] but there have been no reports that this compound exhibits an organ preserving or protecting action. The various drugs heretofore known to have organ preserving or protecting actions are not completely satisfactory in their operational activity. Even with drugs that are by and large potent in their operational activity, problems are often encountered in such aspects as the side-effect and safety features of the drugs per se. Hence, very few have been commercialized as practical medicines. In Bioelectro. Bioenerg. (1987), 18(1-3), pp. 307-324 the role of oxygen scavengers in brain ischaemia is reviewed. WPI-AN-92-030620 describes a drug for treating ischaemic heart disease based on (±)-N,N'-propylenedinicotinamide which increases the rate of myocardial contraction and lactic acid digestion. In WPI-AN-92-8142376D the anti-thrombotic and anti-arteriosclerotic properties of nicaraven are disclosed as well as its ability to inhibit cerebral vasospasm. Neural. Res. (1984) 6(4), pp. 163-168 discloses that nicaraven is a free radical scavenger. GB-A-2 249 937 relates to perfusion and preservation solutions for organ transplants, which may include a trapping agent for free oxygen radicals. [Disclosure of Invention] The present inventors conducted intensive studies with a view to solving these problems of the prior art and found unexpectedly that nicaraven could be a solution that exhibited outstanding organ preserving and protecting effects. The present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding. Nicaraven which is the active ingredient of the organ preservative and protective agent of the invention is a known compound and can be synthesized by the method described in Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 55911/1986. The preservative and protective of the invention are applicable to all kinds of organs obtained from humans and other animals, which may be exemplified by the heart, kidneys, spleens, lungs and liver. The drugs of the invention can be used as additives to preserving solutions or perfusates in order to minimize the damage that can occur to organs during storage after they have been extracted from donors for surgical operations for organ transplantation. The drugs may also be administered to patients under transplantation as organ protectives which are intended to suppress or prevent the occurrence of rejections after organ transplantation. The use of the preservative of the invention has the added advantage that the extracted organ can be stored without deterioration so that its function is maintained until after the transplantation is complete. It should be mentioned that if the nicaraven preparation of the invention is to be used for preserving an extracted organ that is to be eventually transplanted in another person's body, it is effective to administer said preparation to the donor before surgical operation so that a specified amount of nicaraven is preliminarily incorporated into the cells of the organ to be transplanted. [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] When the drug of the invention is to be used as an organ preservative or protective agent, nicaraven may be added either as such to a preserving solution or a perfusate or as a solution or suspension in various solvents that permit the nicaraven to be uniformly dissolved or dispersed. Preferred examples of the solvents that may be used to this end include alcohols such as ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerin and polyethylene glycol, as well as water, physiological saline, triacetin and mixtures thereof in desired proportions. The solutions and suspensions of nicaraven in these solvents can be rendered aseptic by any suitable methods of sterilization such as filtration through bacteria-retaining filters, exposure to heat, addition of bactericides, and application of radiations. Alternatively, aseptic nicaraven may first be formulated either as such or as a solid preparation and then admixed with the above-mentioned solvents in an aseptic form just prior to use. When nicaraven is to be used as an organ protective for suppression or preventing the occurrence of rejections after organ transplantation, it is administered either orally or parenterally such as by intrarectal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intra-arterial and trans-cutaneous routes; preferably, nicaraven is administered orally or intravenously. For oral administration, nicaraven may be formulated as a solid or liquid preparation. Exemplary solid preparations include tablets, pills, powders and granules. Such solid preparations can be produced by mixing the active ingredient nicaraven with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier such as sodium hydrogencarbonate, calcium carbonate, starch, sucrose, mannitol and carboxymethyl cellulose. While common pharmaceutical formulation procedures may be employed, the preparations may contain other additives for formulation, such as lubricants exemplified by calcium stearate, magnesium stearate and glycerin. Liquid preparations for oral administration include emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. These preparations may employ customarily used, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers such as water, and oleaginous bases such as liquid paraffin, coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil, soybean oil and corn oil. For oral administration, the above-mentioned solid preparations may be formulated as enteric preparations by application of enteric coats which are formed by spraying solutions of enteric substances in either organic solvents or water; exemplary enteric substances include cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate, polyvinyl alcohol phthalate, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, and methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymer. Enteric solid preparations such as powders and granules may be encapsulated. Other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include optionally used adjuvants, fragrances, stabilizers and antiseptics. Liquid preparations of powders may be administered in capsules that are made from gelatin and other absorbable substances. Solid preparations for intrarectal administration include suppositories that contain nicaraven and which are produced by methods known per se. The preparations for parenteral administration can be aseptic aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions or emulsions. The non-aqueous solutions or suspensions employ pharmaceutically acceptable carriers which are typically selected from among propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. These preparations may also contain adjuvants such as antiseptics, wetting agents, emulsifiers, dispersants and stabilizers. These solutions, suspensions and emulsions can be rendered aseptic by any suitable methods of sterilization such as filtration through bacteria-retaining filters, exposure to heat, addition of bactericides and application of radiations. Alternatively, aseptic solid preparations may first be produced and dissolved in sterile water or solutions for injection just prior to use. Dosage forms for percutaneous administration include ointments and may be shaped by customary methods. The dose of application of the drugs of the invention to be used as organ preservatives depends on various factors such as the type of the organ, whether it is subjected to simple preservation or perfusion, or the condition of the organ to be transplanted and its weight. Normally, the drugs are used such that their concentration in a preserving solution or a perfusate ranges from 10 -12 to 10 -2 mg/ml, preferably from 10 -5 to 10 -3 mg/ml. If the drugs of the invention are to be used as organ protectives for suppressing or preventing the occurrence of rejections after organ transplantation, the dose of their application also depends on various factors such as the subject to be treated by their administration, his or her age, sex, body weight and the route of administration. Normally, such drugs can be administered in daily doses of about 0.01 µg to 100 mg per kilogram of body weight. The following examples are provided for the purpose of further illustrating the present invention. [Example] SD male rats (weighing about 350 g) were anesthetized intraperitoneally with pentobarbital (50 mg/kg), and medisected in the abdomen, followed by insertion of a catheter (0.26 ml or 0.61 ml) through the right ureter of each animal. Subsequently, heparinized physiological saline was injected into the vein of each animal through a catheter (22 G) inserted into the right renal artery, followed by initial perfusion with heparinized physiological saline (10 ml). Immediately thereafter, UW (University of Wisconsin) solution (20 ml) was infused and the kidneys were extracted. The extracted kidneys were immersed in a preserving solution containing UW solution and kept at 4°C for 48 h. The kidneys were then subjected to isolated perfusion for 90 min. with an IPK (isolated perfused kidney) apparatus (Model KN-87N of NATSUME SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD.). The volume of perfusate and urine were measured at 30-min intervals. Portion of the perfusate and urine collected were used for biochemical analysis. The animals under experiment were divided into two groups. After medisection in the abdomen, the rats of group I were injected intravenously with nicaraven (3 mg). Ten minutes later, the kidneys were perfused with UW solution containing nicaraven (28 mg/100 ml) and preserved under cold conditions. After medisection in the abdomen, the rats of group II were injected intravenously with physiological saline. Ten minutes later, the kidneys were perfused with UW solution and preserved under cold conditions. The results are shown in Tables 1 - 5 below. Urine Volumes in IPK Preparation during Preservation Period Control (group II) Nicaravan treated (group I) 30 min 60 min 90 min 30 min 60 min 90 min 1 0.02 0.05 0.14 0.94 1.16 0.70 2 0.06 0.06 0.06 1.91 2.89 4.40 3 0.28 0.14 0.18 0.50 0.51 0.53 4 0.20 0.14 0.14 1.20 1.33 2.02 5 0.06 0.07 0.07 0.45 0.73 1.64 6 0.07 0.03 0.04 0.89 1.11 0.86 0.16±0.10 0.08±0.05 0.11±0.06 0.98±0.54 p≤0.005 1.29±0.84 p≤0.005 1.69±1.45 p≤0.005 Perfusate Volumes in IPK Preparation during Preservation Period Control (group II) Nicaraven tested (group I) 30 min 60 min 90 min 30 min 60 min 90 min 1 6.0 6.2 5.2 14.0 10.4 18.0 2 5.8 6.2 6.2 13.8 12.0 9.4 3 2.0 1.6 1.6 11.5 13.6 8.0 4 2.0 1.7 2.0 13.6 14.8 13.4 5 3.0 3.6 2.0 12.4 9.8 8.8 6 6.1 8.0 7.6 9.4 4.6 3.0 4.15±2.03 4.55±2.65 4.10±2.57 12.45±1.78 p≤0.005 10.87±3.60 p≤0.05 10.10±5.10 p≤0.05 Urinary Sodium Contents in IPK Preparation during Preservation Period Control (group II) Nicaraven treated (group I) 30 min 60 min 90 min 30 min 60 min 90 min 1 3.3 3.5 3.8 3.1 3.2 3.4 2 3.3 3.6 3.8 3.4 3.3 3.4 3 3.5 3.7 3.6 3.1 3.5 3.4 4 3.2 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.2 3.2 5 3.2 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.1 2.6 6 3.3 3.5 3.8 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.3±0.11 3.6±0.12 3.7±0.10 3.2±0.12 3.3±0.14 p≤0.01 3.2±0.32 p≤0.005 Urinary Potassium Contents in IPK Preparation during Preservation Period Control (group II) Nicaraven treated (group I) 30 min 60 min 90 min 30 min 60 min 90 min 1 1.01 0.33 0.33 0.35 0.24 0.26 2 0.82 0.33 0.31 0.27 0.27 0.27 3 0.92 0.35 0.33 0.41 0.27 0.27 4 0.55 0.29 0.27 0.45 0.27 0.26 5 0.99 0.33 0.31 0.29 0.27 0.21 6 1.15 0.29 0.33 0.30 0.27 0.27 0.91±0.21 0.32±0.02 0.31±0.02 0.35±0.07 p≤0.005 0.27±0.01 p≤0.005 0.25±0.02 p≤0.01 Urinary Creatinine Contents in IPK Preparation during Preservation Period Control (group II) Nicaraven treated (group I) 30 min 60 min 90 min 30 min 60 min 90 min 1 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 4 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 5 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 6 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.7±0.5 2.7±0.5 2.7±0.5 2.0±0 p≤0.05 2.0±0 p≤0.05 2.0±0 p≤0.05 [Industrial Applicability of the Invention] Nicaraven not only exhibits outstanding organ preserving and protecting effects: it is also free from any significant problems with side-effect and safety aspects. Therefore, nicaraven is very useful as an organ preservative and protective agent.

Claims: Use of (±)-N,N'-propylenedinicotinamide as an organ preservative for storing extracted organs. Use of (±)-N,N'-propylenedinicotinamide as an organ protective for storing extracted organs. Use of (±)-N,N'-propylenedinicotinamide for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for preserving organs. Use of (±)-N,N'-propylenedinicotinamide for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for protecting organs.

Inventors: KUMANO KAZUO, MASAKI YOSHIHIKO, KUMANO, KAZUO, MASAKI, YOSHIHIKO
Applicants: CHUGAI PHARMACEUTICAL CO LTD, CHUGAI SEIYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A01N1
IPC codes: A61K31, A01N1